AFRICA: Congo Goes to War

Last week Governor General Pierre Ryckmans of
the Belgian Congo announced that "unoccupied Belgium" was at war with
Italy. Casus belli: Italy had committed hostile acts against Belgium,
including the use of Belgian airdromes by Italian planes bombing Great
Britain. The Governor General neglected to declare war against Germany,
whose planes have also used Belgian airdromes to bomb Great Britain.
Reason: Leopold, King of the Belgians, is a German prisoner of war.
Nevertheless, the Governor General made it clear that the Congo would
"continue the closest collaboration with Great Britain and her
allies."